The team is viewing these tests as a chance to get the technical team, which has practically been renewed in its entirety, and the new equipment and systems a first taste of the action. They are also important for Pedro de la Rosa as he aims to regain a feel for the car. The Spanish driver completed a total of 44 laps, covering a distance of 194.612 kilometres.

Today’s testing with the 2011 car has focused mainly on optimizing the car’s balance with the different tyres that Pirelli has brought to these tests (soft, medium and hard compounds). The session progressed with no major issues and, both the team and de la Rosa, finished the day with the sense of a job well done.

HRT F1 Team will continue to work tomorrow on driving aspects, in order to complete its scheduled two-day programme for Jerez.

Pedro de la Rosa:

“I really enjoyed myself today to be honest. I have to admit that I was a little bit nervous at the beginning of the day, because I barely knew anyone in the team or the car itself, but I’m very satisfied with how it went. Today the main thing was to do some mileage, not try things out, simply to get to know each other and I think the team did a great job. I felt very well surrounded, both by the mechanics and the engineers who worked with me. They all did a fantastic job. I want to insist on the work everyone did today because we were all new to the team. I think the sensations were positive for everyone”.

Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal:

“We’ve gone through a couple of months of intense work and it was very important for everyone to be here and get things going on the track. I must say that I am very proud of the job done by everybody to achieve this. A large amount of the team and the materials are new so we needed to put these into practice. Everything went well, with no relevant problems, and we’ve taken another step, albeit a small one, in the right direction which is what matters right now”.